Terra Monstrum

Chapter 11: Declaration of War

"CTN News, Special Report! This is Noskova Artemievna in Novosibirsk, coming to you with the latest on the sudden geologic activity in our country's interior. As of this morning the intensity of the seismic waves has increased again, raising the Richter scale from 5.0 to magnitude 6 and spreading destruction beyond the federal line. Evacuations are now under way in the neighboring Tomsk, Omsk, and Kemerovo oblasts, and overall damages are believed to be in the neighborhood of 93,000,000 rubles. We are lucky to report that only three fatalities have been confirmed so far, but unfortunately hundreds more have been left injured or without homes. Experts are unable to provide a timeframe for when reconstruction can begin, but are confident the worst of the quakes are behind us."

Brzzt.

"This is Khigir Yegorovich, reporting live from Irkutsk! An unbelievable story has unfolded here today! Reports of an unidentified vehicle driving through the ravine that used to be Bauman Street have now been officially confirmed, as you can no doubt see for yourself! This incredible tank-like machine is of unknown make and origin and emerged from the wreckage just twenty minutes ago. Officials have been unable to make radio communication with its driver, and as this earlier footage shows, the daring officers who risked their lives to enter the disaster area were powerless to stop it. Whether this bizarre craft is the work of some local madman or a foreign invasion is unclear, but with the destruction it has already caused there is no doubt that the Federation is gearing up to retaliate."

Brzzt.

"...Similar augurs have appeared in Komi and Magadan, bringing the total number of emergence points to twelve. Operation Ogon Seven is still in progress as negotiations for increased UN aid continue. Presently, the Prime Minister has repeated his plea for citizens to cooperate with local law enforcement and seek shelter immediately. Even with all of the country's anti-kaiju bunkers at max capacity, the Federation is adamant that safe haven can still be granted to the thousands of refugees displaced by these attacks."

Brzzt.

"...We are taking you live to the scene at Tyumen, where one of the unidentified vehicles has stopped and is opening as I speak! The occupant... is a human being! Yes, it is most definitely a man, and he is... wearing very strange clothes?"

Brzzt.

"PEOPLE OF OUTER EARTH, BOW BEFORE YOUR TRUE MASTERS! WE HAVE COME BY DIVINE RIGHT TO RECLAIM WHAT IS OURS WHAT YOU HAVE STOLEN! SURRENDER YOUR CITIES NOW, AND YOU MAY SPARE-"

Brzzt!

The Russian Lieutenant Colonel tossed his TV remote aside and sat down at the meeting room table with a blatantly unprofessional look of exasperation.

"You weren't kidding..." muttered a lower officer. "These Seatopians look like idiots!"

"That's because they are idiots, Major." sighed the Lieutenant Colonel. "If they had tried this a year ago they wouldn't have even made it out of their hole."

"Lieutenant Colonel, are they really just cultists? This technology is nothing like what you described in your report!" said another young man.

"Yes, yes, it's all true... a bunch of fanatical mudaks holed up in an abandoned Hollow, dancing around in their mothers' drapes and singing about beetles. On their own they are as harmless as they are stupid, but as you recall they have ties to the Nebulans." he groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Those drilling machines have to be theirs. They must have noticed the state of the Earth and said something to their comrades. No doubt they are mounting an invasion of their own now..."

"Then what will we do, sir? Are you changing our orders?" asked another man.

"Absolutely! We have already reached out to the United Nations, and the German and American airforces have volunteered to lend a hand. With their added firepower we'll be able to put an end to this farce and crush the Seatopians like the little bugs they are."